In the latest episode of RV Small Talk, we caught up with our friend Chase Rhode, co-founder of Field and Sports.
No stranger to the RV industry, Chase grew up around all things RVing, camping, and family adventures. With a passion for the outdoors, Chase and his dad, Scott, have been able to take a unique approach to partnering with RV Dealerships and manufacturers.
RV Memory Lane
Let’s take a step back. Who are the Rhodes, and how did they get to where they are today? For as long as Chace can remember, RVs have been a part of his life. Growing up as a soccer player, Chase spent a lot of his time on the road. Over time, it became clear that RV travel was a far better option for both comfort and convenience.
In 2008, Scott helped create the R-Pod, now one of the top lightweight travel trailers on the market. The Rhode family took the first prototype—what we now know as the R-Pod 172—out on the road, packing in three kids, two dogs, and Scott and his wife into a non-slide, 2,500-pound camper.
What is it That You Do here?
The Rhodes have a unique business model. Instead of representing one manufacturer, they work with multiple brands, each with a unique build process. The pace of production is a bit slower, but the result is a lower warranty incident rate and a level of quality that’s hard to match. Their approach falls somewhere between that of a small startup and a larger manufacturer.
These factories could be anywhere from a husband and wife building campers in their garage to be corporate like operations.
What Made You Want to Rep Brands Like This?
Chase and Scott spend a lot of time in the field. They use the products, attend RV shows, and support events across the U.S. This hands-on approach, combined with their deep industry knowledge, gives them the integrity and leverage to make informed decisions.
Since they’ve both been so engrained in the industry, it gives them leverage to know what to do and what not to do with integrity. The companies they represent go through a rigorous review that must hold up to the Rhodes standards. They go out and do factory tours, meet their teams, and have a family component to it. These companies have a low warranty incident rate, have been in business for a long time, have great company culture, and customer reviews. All of this goes into their decision making when finding manufacturers to represent.
Field and Sports
As a co-founder of Field and Sports, Chase connects with manufacturers at every level and process. Since most of the manufacturers they represent are going from direct to consumer to selling through dealers, the Rhodes have a constant line of communication. Chase and Scott are with these companies’ multiple times a week building out their distribution.
Consulting and business development is another large part of their operation. With Scotts background as a product manager at a large plant, he’s been able to earn the trust of the brands they represent. Consulting with companies like Modern Buggy, he has been able to help guide them to big milestones like Teardrop of the Year and RV Business Top 10 of the Year.
It’s an exciting time for the RV industry. We are seeing lots of innovation and fresh takes on products and efficiencies. Scott and Chase Rhode have been able to help elevate manufacturers in the game and take absolute pride in the brands they work for.
